Billy Ebel returns for his second season with the Lipscomb Lady Bisons volleyball team.

“He’s one of these young coaches that has a great understanding for the game and the running of a program,” Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal said. “He is extremely knowledgeable in the planning and execution of a high level practice.”

Ebel has ties to some of the former and current Lipscomb volleyball athletes such as Jake Pease, Alex Kelly, Abby Fay and Meghan Hinemeyer because they all grew up in the same area. He coached Lauren Ford as a club player.

Ford and Ebel are from the same hometown of Lenexa, Kan.; although they went to rival high schools.

Ebel joined the University of Missouri-Kansas City staff in February 2011 as a volunteer assistant coach and stayed on the staff as a graduate assistant coach. He is working on his master’s degree in higher education.

He worked for Christi Posey for three seasons at UMKC.

“I’ve learned a lot about coaching, recruiting, establishing my own philosophy and my own coaching staff, “ Ebel said. “A lot of that goes hand-to-hand with Coach Rosenthal’s thoughts and ideas on how we want to represent the program.”

Prior to joining the UMKC staff, Ebel served as a defensive coordinator at Bishop Miege, his former high school team. He helped the Lady Stags to the 2010 Kansas State Championship.

Ebel served as a volunteer assistant coach at Muncie Burris Laboratory High School in Muncie, Indiana for three seasons. He helped guide the Owls to the Indiana Class 2A State Championship in each season and one national runner-up finish.

Ebel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in sports administration and management in 2010 from Ball State University.

He played men’s volleyball, lettering four years from 2007-2010. 2010. He was the team captain in 2010. He was an All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association First Team selection in 2010 and a seven-Time MIVA Defensive Player of the Week.

He finished his career tied for 10th in program history with 688 digs, while ranking third in matches with double-figure digs (33), holding the No. 11 slot in digs-per-game average (1.87) and ranking 14th in games played (367). He set the school’s single-season record with a 3.05 digs-per-game average in 2010, while ranking third in matches with double-figure digs (18) and fourth in digs (336).